THE BERMUDA SIDEWALK

It happened on a Sunday afternoon, right in front of Morley’s deli on Elm St. Miss Jenkins had just bought a salami on rye and was headed up the street to Turners book store when she suddenly vanished. No one saw her disappear, but it is generally believed that she was the first.

 It was Mr. Morley himself who caused the sensation.

 Mr. Morley left his store a few moments after Miss Jenkins. He was on his way to the market to pick up some extra pastrami when, as people later described it, he dissolved into the air. The people in the store, not believing their eyes, went outside to see if Mr. Morley had slipped and fell. There was not any sign of Mr. Morley on the sidewalk.

Then, on impulse, someone threw their sandwich into the area where Mr. Morley had been. The sandwich dissolved just as Mr. Morley had.

The police were called in and experiments were performed to verify the phenomenon. They tossed various items into the air and watched them disappear.

Then they roped off the area and the Mayor notified the Governor. It took a few minutes for the Mayor to convince the Governor that he was not intoxicated. When he did, the Governor had his limo rush him to the site.

More things dissolved as demonstrations were held for the Governor.

From the phone in the limo, the Gov. phoned the President. Shortly thereafter the army arrived and a General Scott assumed control of the situation. A base of operations was established in Mr. Morley’s deli and everyone agreed that Mr. Morley’s food was exceptional.

Seven hours and forty-three minutes later the President arrived by helicopter. He was escorted to the deli, and after a reluctant marine tossed the remains of his sandwich into the disturbance to demonstrate the effect, he entered the deli. (the presidents mind, for some inexplicable reason, turned to thoughts of political enemies).

 General Scott saluted the president as he entered the deli. The president returned the greeting and asked for a briefing.

"This is the situation, Mr. President" he began. "There seems to be a strong magnetic disturbance in this town. Specifically in front of this deli on the sidewalk. This disturbance has the same properties that we have noted in the Bermuda Triangle. We are able to detect it and it has been fading in and out since we began monitoring."

"I see..." said the President.

A young marine entered and saluted.

"Yes?" asked the General, returning the salute.

"Sir! Mr. Morley has returned. and he's with a woman, sir."

"Bring them here." Instructed the president

Mr. Morley and Miss Jenkins were brought into the deli. They looked normal enough. They even appeared to be happy; their entrance had been preceded by laughter. Mr. Morley immediately went behind the counter and began making a sandwich.

"You know, I wasn't hungry there, but now I’m starving. Miss Jenkins you’re going to love this."

The president cleared his throat and Mr. Morley noticed him for the first time.

"Mr. President! I half expected to see the military, but I'm surprised to see you here."

"Are you? This is an important event, Mr. Morley. Why don't you explain what happened to you?"

"Well," began Mr. Morley, "there I was on my way to the market to get some extra pastrami, when all of the sudden I was standing in a field of wild flowers. Off in the distance I could see tree covered hills. I kind of got the feeling that I was in one of those French landscape paintings. You know what I mean?"

The President nodded.

"Anyway," continued Mr. Morley, "then I heard Miss Jenkins there crying. She was sitting down surrounded by flowers. I tried to comfort her and when the first sandwich came through I knew someone was going to help. We tried several times to return but it wasn't until the fourth time that we were able to get through."

The General smiled. "That coincides with the fading in and out of the magnetic field." he said.

"How long were we there?" asked Miss Jenkins.

"Eight hours, mam." said the General.

The President looked at Miss Jenkins. He found her very attractive; in a school teacher kind of way. He returned his attention to Mr. Morley.

"This place seemed to be pretty nice," he said.

"Ha!" laughed Mr. Morley. "that's an understatement. I think that place was Eden, or something damn close."

"I see," said the President "then why did you come back?"

"Well, sir, we're not staying." said Mr. Morley, sheepishly.

"I beg your pardon?"

"We're leaving; Miss Jenkins and I -- Mr. President when I was over there I never felt better in my life. I wasn't hungry or thirsty, cold or hot. It was Paradise. Miss Jenkins and I realized that we might never make it back to here and now, but that if we did we'd take care of our affairs and return. We got through and now we must make up a will and be on our way."

The President was amazed. "You would leave this world for some other place?" he asked.

"Not any place, Mr. President but this place certainly. Right Miss Jenkins?"

"Of course."

The President sat silently for several moments. A marine said the field was fluxing in and out. Mr. Morley chomped on his sandwich. The President stood up abruptly.

"Miss Jenkins, would you come with me please?"

Miss Jenkins rose and began to follow the President out of the deli. Mr. Morley began to follow as well.

"Please wait here, Mr. Morley." the President said. Two marines moved in slightly closer to Mr. Morley.  Mr. Morley waited.

The President led Miss Jenkins out to the sidewalk. He gently took hold of her elbow as they went around the ropes surrounding the disturbance. She glanced up at him and smiled. The president winked at her as they dissolved into the air.

The marines who had been guarding the parameter of the disturbance had not expected this and they were falling all over each other in confusion.

Back in the deli the marine on the monitor informed the General that there had been a surge in the field and that it was now gone. Mr. Morley was the first to reach the sidewalk.

 "No!" he wailed. "Wait for me Miss Jenkins! Wait for me!" He threw his sandwich over the rope and it fell with a splat where the disturbance had been. Mr. Morley lunged over the rope and fell to his knees, pounding the sidewalk with his fists.

He did not vanish, dissolve, or disappear.

He cried.

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